2018 Chateau Latour Les Forts de Latour

Les Forts de Latour 2018 is the superb second wine of the legendary First Growth Château Latour, offering a more accessible expression of this great Pauillac estate while still showcasing its trademark depth, structure, and precision. Crafted predominantly from Cabernet Sauvignon and issued from carefully selected plots, it delivers classically styled Left Bank power with remarkable finesse. The 2018 vintage is especially notable as it marks the culmination of Château Latour’s transition to fully organic viticulture, a new chapter in the long, storied history of this iconic Médoc property.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, Les Forts de Latour 2018 shows a deep, opaque garnet-purple color, hinting at both concentration and youth. The nose opens with vivid aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant and ripe plum, layered with notes of violets, cedar, pencil shavings, sweet baking spices and a subtle touch of licorice and graphite. On the palate, this is a powerful yet finely balanced Pauillac, with dense black fruit at the core framed by firm, ultra-fine tannins. Flavors of cassis, black cherries and mulberries mingle with cocoa, tobacco leaf, clove and a touch of smoke, leading into a long, poised finish marked by freshness and savory minerality. Still youthful and structured, the 2018 vintage has excellent aging potential; it will evolve beautifully over 10–20+ years, gaining complexity, silkier texture and even more aromatic nuance with time in bottle.

Production
Les Forts de Latour is produced from vineyards surrounding the famed l’Enclos at Château Latour, in the heart of Pauillac on the Left Bank of Bordeaux. The proximity to the Gironde estuary moderates temperatures and protects the vines, while deep gravel soils over clay provide superb drainage and encourage Cabernet Sauvignon to ripen slowly and evenly. In 2018, the estate completed its move to fully organic viticulture, working meticulously in the vineyard despite a challenging, wet start to the season followed by a hot, dry summer. The blend for 2018 is approximately 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, harvested parcel by parcel between 17 September and 11 October. After strict selection, the must is vinified in temperature-controlled vats, followed by maturation in French oak barrels (a significant proportion new) to refine the tannins, build structure and add subtle spicy complexity while preserving the clarity and purity of the fruit.

Food & Serving
This structured, classical Pauillac is a natural partner for richly flavored dishes such as roast or grilled lamb, ribeye steak, beef Wellington, venison, or slow-braised short ribs. It also pairs beautifully with game birds, truffle-infused dishes, and aged hard cheeses like Comté or mature cheddar. Serve at 16–18°C (about 60–64°F). If enjoyed in its youth, decanting for 1–2 hours is recommended to allow the wine to open and soften; with more bottle age, a brief, careful decant primarily to remove sediment will be sufficient.

Producer
Château Latour is one of the most revered names in Bordeaux and a classified First Growth from the 1855 classification, located in Pauillac on the Médoc’s gravelly crest about 50 km northwest of Bordeaux. Its emblematic terroir, particularly the walled l’Enclos vineyard overlooking the Gironde estuary, has been a cradle of great Bordeaux for centuries, renowned for producing wines of remarkable longevity, depth and precision. Under the stewardship of the Pinault family since 1993, the estate has invested heavily in vineyard and cellar improvements, culminating in the adoption of organic (and increasingly biodynamic) viticulture. Les Forts de Latour, created in the 1960s, has since become one of the world’s most sought-after second wines, often rivaling classified growths in quality and consistently showcasing the rigor, craftsmanship and prestige associated with Château Latour.

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